ISO 14001 certification (Environmental management system)

ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard, and certification is usually not a legal requirement. However, customers, supply chains and public or private tenders may require it or consider it an advantage, particularly where environmental performance matters.

ISO 14001 suits organisations of any size and sector, including manufacturing, construction, technical services, logistics, wholesale, IT, healthcare and public bodies.

It is particularly relevant where environmental impacts, complex supply chains, multiple sites, international operations or growing sustainability and customer requirements need to be managed.

Step 1: understand your situation

Review your current environmental management, environmental aspects, legal obligations, objectives and intended certification scope.

Step 2: prepare with Bureau Veritas

We discuss your organisation, activities, employee numbers, sites and certification scope before preparing a tailored certification proposal.

Step 3 (optional): gap analysis or pre-audit

A gap analysis or pre-audit helps identify areas needing attention before the formal Certification Audit.

The auditor assesses whether your environmental management system meets the standard’s requirements and works effectively in practice.

Key areas include:

• your organisation’s context;
• relevant environmental aspects and impacts;
• legal and other compliance obligations;
• environmental objectives and improvement plans;
• roles, responsibilities and resources;
• operational controls;
• monitoring, measurement and performance evaluation;
• internal audits and management review;
• Non Conformities and corrective actions;
• continual improvement.

The audit goes beyond documentation to assess how environmental management is implemented, monitored and improved in daily operations.

The process starts with defining the scope and preparing a certification agreement. The Certification Audit has two stages.

Stage 1 / Initial Audit

• The auditor assesses readiness for Stage 2 by reviewing:
• documentation and scope;
• internal audits and management review;
• compliance obligations;
• application of ISO 14001 requirements.

Stage 2 / Main Audit

• The auditor assesses implementation and effectiveness through interviews, process assessments, a review of environmental aspects and an evaluation of system performance.

Certificate issuance: Following a successful audit and Technical Review, Bureau Veritas can issue your ISO 14001 certificate.

A certificate is usually valid for three years, provided your organisation continues to meet the standard’s requirements.

During the certification cycle:

• Surveillance Audits: assess whether the management system remains effective and meets the standard’s requirements.
• Recertification Audit: takes place at the end of the three-year cycle to assess renewal.

This supports ongoing assessment and improvement throughout the certification period.

ISO 14001:2026 is the latest version of the environmental management standard. It replaces ISO 14001:2015 and addresses current environmental issues and changing stakeholder expectations.

Areas of emphasis include:

• climate and climate change;
• biodiversity and ecosystems;
• resource use and circularity;
• supply chain impacts and the life cycle perspective;
• change management;
• measurable environmental performance.

What changes in ISO 14001:2026?

A broader view of environmental impact

Assess environmental impact from a life cycle perspective, covering procurement, design, production, storage, use, distribution and recycling of products and services.

Greater emphasis on change management

Plan and control changes affecting your environmental management system to prepare for new regulation, technology and market developments.

The right route depends on your current position, schedule and certification needs.

Not yet certified
Discuss the appropriate route with Bureau Veritas:

• certification to ISO 14001:2015, followed by a transition to the 2026 version; or
• certification directly to ISO 14001:2026.

Already certified to ISO 14001:2015
Prepare for the transition to ISO 14001:2026 within the official transition arrangements. Bureau Veritas supports you through this process.

Contact us to discuss your situation.

Yes. We plan the transfer without unnecessary disruption to your current certification cycle.

We review your certificate, audit history, scope and schedule to coordinate the transfer within your existing cycle.

ISO 14001 is not a sustainability reporting standard, but it provides a useful basis for reporting.

It helps structure environmental data, objectives, risks, actions and improvements, making it easier to:

• demonstrate environmental performance;
• prepare sustainability reports, including CSRD and VSME reporting;
• inform customers, clients and regulators;
• demonstrate compliance and progress.